1. Are we, as some might say, motivated by a desire to save our off-spring?
Our off-spring is the copy of our genes. Parents consider their child as the most important. Mostly because they are growing copies of their own genes. They are willing to save their offspring to save their genetic copy. Also, they are willing to protect their family as a priority over other people who are not blood-related. Nonetheless, this does not win over the true love that parents are giving to their children. Most parents live more than half of their lives with their child. And as I mentioned above, most of the parents place their child as the number one priority. Some parents' life cycle revolves around their child. They work in order to support their child's education, often devoting most of their time. And surprisingly, they want nothing in return. Thus, I believe that parents are not motivated by a desire to save our off-spring.
2. Must there always be some sort of intrinsic reward for doing good?
One of the rewards received for doing 'good' can be referred to as the 'good-guy badge' introduced in the website. This 'good-guy badge' "boosts their[our] own social position". Whether we realize it or not, people starts acting in a way in order to achieve this reward. Although the primary reason of doing good might not always be because of this advantage, but this good-guy badge surely acts as a trigger for most people. These kind of intrinsic rewards are not 'always' necessary. However, it is true that there must be some advantage that is guaranteed to make some people do good.
3. Mr. Otis once said, "That having integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching." If this is so, and no one knows when we have done good, would you still do good?
Doing good is, in a sense, for some kind of advantage; whether it is for other people to respect you, or just for self-satisfaction. However, in my case, most of the time it is for self-satisfaction. When I am doing good to satisfy myself, it does not matter where I do good, or who knows that I did good. I am gratified as long as I am aware of doing good. Only, this may not be referred to as 'integrity' since the purpose is to fulfill my satisfaction.
4. "Delayed reciprocal altruism", seems like a gamble - back to game theory, any way. Does this seem to make sense to you. That is that we act out of a desire to have what we have done being done to us?
"Delayed reciprocal altruism" is, certainly, a gamble. Even if we give good, we are never sure that we will be able to 'receive' that good in return. Every individual keeps a different definition and goal of doing good. Some think that doing good is just so that they can get good in return. Others think that people do good to place themselves in a higher position. Since everyone keeps a different translation of 'altruism' in their minds, some people return good, but others decide not to. Even if they feel some sort of guilt for not returning good, they may still stubbornly decide not to give good back.
5. Are we ever being truly "selfless" when committing an act of altruism?
In my opinion, the answer is 'no'. No one can be 'selfless' when committing an act of altruism. Everyone has a purpose for doing good. It is our nature to have selfishness behind good deeds. The website agrees to this too, as they say
Our off-spring is the copy of our genes. Parents consider their child as the most important. Mostly because they are growing copies of their own genes. They are willing to save their offspring to save their genetic copy. Also, they are willing to protect their family as a priority over other people who are not blood-related. Nonetheless, this does not win over the true love that parents are giving to their children. Most parents live more than half of their lives with their child. And as I mentioned above, most of the parents place their child as the number one priority. Some parents' life cycle revolves around their child. They work in order to support their child's education, often devoting most of their time. And surprisingly, they want nothing in return. Thus, I believe that parents are not motivated by a desire to save our off-spring.
2. Must there always be some sort of intrinsic reward for doing good?
One of the rewards received for doing 'good' can be referred to as the 'good-guy badge' introduced in the website. This 'good-guy badge' "boosts their[our] own social position". Whether we realize it or not, people starts acting in a way in order to achieve this reward. Although the primary reason of doing good might not always be because of this advantage, but this good-guy badge surely acts as a trigger for most people. These kind of intrinsic rewards are not 'always' necessary. However, it is true that there must be some advantage that is guaranteed to make some people do good.
3. Mr. Otis once said, "That having integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching." If this is so, and no one knows when we have done good, would you still do good?
Doing good is, in a sense, for some kind of advantage; whether it is for other people to respect you, or just for self-satisfaction. However, in my case, most of the time it is for self-satisfaction. When I am doing good to satisfy myself, it does not matter where I do good, or who knows that I did good. I am gratified as long as I am aware of doing good. Only, this may not be referred to as 'integrity' since the purpose is to fulfill my satisfaction.
4. "Delayed reciprocal altruism", seems like a gamble - back to game theory, any way. Does this seem to make sense to you. That is that we act out of a desire to have what we have done being done to us?
"Delayed reciprocal altruism" is, certainly, a gamble. Even if we give good, we are never sure that we will be able to 'receive' that good in return. Every individual keeps a different definition and goal of doing good. Some think that doing good is just so that they can get good in return. Others think that people do good to place themselves in a higher position. Since everyone keeps a different translation of 'altruism' in their minds, some people return good, but others decide not to. Even if they feel some sort of guilt for not returning good, they may still stubbornly decide not to give good back.
5. Are we ever being truly "selfless" when committing an act of altruism?
In my opinion, the answer is 'no'. No one can be 'selfless' when committing an act of altruism. Everyone has a purpose for doing good. It is our nature to have selfishness behind good deeds. The website agrees to this too, as they say